Chapter Five Willow #2
“I have to go.” I hurry down the steps and wave at him before lowering myself into my car. “Talk to you later!”
He’s grinning at me, and it makes the butterflies wake up in my stomach.
I start the car, and with another wave, I drive away, but he doesn’t walk inside. I can see him in the rearview mirror until I drive around the bend and he’s out of sight.
It’s been the longest two weeks of my damn life.
I’ve been buried in work, making up for the time I took off over the past month after Ray’s passing, and needing to be more present at the ranch for Ryker and Gideon.
I feel like all I do is sit in my booth.
I’ve barely spoken to Ryker at all. We’re mostly back to our normal texts and once-a-week phone calls, like it used to be.
And I kind of hate that. I got used to seeing him often.
Add on to that—and I didn’t think it was possible—the way Aiden’s attitude has gotten progressively worse with each passing day. He’s so short tempered and has been pretty much giving me the silent treatment.
School got out for the summer yesterday, and at some point after I went to bed, Aiden sneaked out of the house, and is just now at six in the morning sauntering through the front door, his hair tousled, his clothes rumpled, and is that a freaking hickey on his neck?
When he sees me waiting for him, standing in the kitchen with my arms crossed, there’s a quick flicker of guilt that flashes over his face, and then the scowl that seems to live there permanently takes up residence once more.
“Where the hell were you all night?”
“Celebrating” is all he says.
“You didn’t answer your phone.”
“Turned it off.” He yawns and scratches his flat stomach. Aiden may only be fifteen, but he’s big. He’s well over six feet tall, and he’s muscular. Weight lifting class is the only class he hasn’t missed all year. “Going to bed.”
“No, you’re not. You can turn around and get in my car. Now.”
“No way. I haven’t even been to bed yet.”
“Not my problem. Let’s go.”
His eyes narrow, and he steps into me, the way he’s started to do when he’s not getting his way and he thinks he can intimidate me.
I’d never admit this to anyone, but I’m starting to actually fear my kid, and that breaks my heart. It’s one more reason that I’m sure taking him out to work at the ranch is the right thing for him.
“I said I’m going to bed.”
I keep my chin lifted, not wavering in staring him down. “And I said get in the goddamn car, Aiden. Now.”
He growls, and then, to my utter horror, he punches the wall by my head, busting through the drywall, before he stomps away, and I hear the car door slam.
Holy fucking shit.
He’s never . . . What’s happening?
With a shaking hand, I push my hair behind my ear and then grab my purse and walk out to the car, where Aiden’s sitting in the back seat, fuming.
I guess he doesn’t want to sit next to me. That’s fine.
I don’t say a word as I shoot off a quick text to Ryker to let him know we’re on our way, start the engine, and pull out of the driveway. We’re just leaving town when Aiden demands, “Where the fuck are we going?”
“You’ll watch your mouth with me.” I hate the tremor in my voice. “You’ll see when we get there.”
“I don’t want to go to the freaking ranch.”
I don’t bother replying. I don’t want to fight with him, especially when I’m driving. It’s so early that the sun isn’t fully up yet. I wanted to have him out there by six because the ranch gets going early in the morning, but we’ll be late.
Aiden used to love the ranch when he was younger. He couldn’t get enough of it. Now, he never wants to go out there.
It’s a tense, quiet hour, and finally, I pull into the driveway and see that Ryker is standing on the porch, waiting for us. He’s in old, worn blue jeans, a T-shirt with a flannel over it because it’s cool this morning, and work boots.
“What the fuck,” Aiden grumbles, and I sigh out a breath. My hands still aren’t altogether steady after the altercation at home.
He’s never done that before.
And frankly, it hurt my feelings.
“Hey, Trouble,” Ryker says with a grin as he walks down the stairs, but then that smile falls when he sees my face. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head and wait for Aiden to join me.
“Say hello,” I say to my boy.
“’Sup,” Aiden says.
Ryker’s eyes fall to Aiden’s hand, which is swollen and bruised. A little bloody. And then he turns to me again and tips my chin up.
“What. The fuck. Happened?”
I swallow hard, caught in his gaze. “He wasn’t happy about going out this morning. Punched the wall.”
Ry’s eyes narrow. “Where?”
“By my head.”
The lethal rage that rolls through Ryker’s eyes has me stepping back a pace, and he turns to Aiden.
“Did she tell you that you’ll be working for me this summer?”
“No.” Aiden glances at me, then at the ground.
“Well, you are. I have one rule. Are you listening to me? I’ll only say this once.”
“Whatever.”
Ryker moves into Aiden’s space, crowding him until Aiden looks up into his eyes. Ry is at least three inches taller than the teenager and is certainly stronger.
Aiden swallows hard.
“I’m listening,” Aiden says, some of his bravado gone.
“Good. I have one rule on this ranch.” He points to me but keeps his eyes on Aiden’s.
“No one fucks with her. You don’t yell at her, you don’t swear at her, you absolutely do not punch a wall anywhere near her.
You treat Willow with respect. That’s it.
We’ll figure everything else out as we go. You got that?”
Aiden’s eyebrows pull together as if he regrets what he did, and then he licks his lips and offers Ryker a nod.
“Yeah. I got it.”
“Good.” He turns back to me. “Where are your bags?”
I shake my head. “I’ll bring him in and pick him up every day.”
Ryker scowls. “That’s a lot of driving, Wills.”
“Well, I’m not leaving him. Everyone else in his life has abandoned him, and I’m not going to ever do that.
” Aiden’s gaze whips up to mine in surprise.
“No matter how much of a brat he is, he’s my brat, and he goes where I go.
So I’ll bring him every morning, and I’ll pick him up at the end of the day. ”
Ry shakes his head and then sighs as he rubs his hand over the back of his neck. “Fine. He’ll be done by around six every day.”
I nod, and I want to reach out and hug my boy, but I know he won’t allow that to happen, so I just pat him on the arm.
“I love you, buddy. You’ve always loved the ranch. You’ll enjoy working out here.”
“Right.”
He hasn’t said I love you too in years. It shouldn’t hurt me anymore.
But it does.
“I’ll see you this evening.”
He nods, and I turn to Ryker.
“Thank you. Call me if you need me.”
“That’s my line.” He grabs my hand and pulls me in for a hug, and then he plants his lips on my forehead and kisses me so tenderly, it almost brings tears to my eyes. “He’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t you know?” I laugh as I pull away and saunter to the car. “Worry is my middle name. Willow Worry. It has a ring to it.”
I’m shocked to see that Aiden looks like he wants to smile, but then it’s gone.
“Drive safe,” Ry says.
“Have fun,” I reply, and leave the ranch.
I really hope this works. I want my happy kid back.